The Other Dream Team (Marius Markevicius, 2012): USA

Reviewed by Krista Marquez, Santa Barbara Film Festival.

If you like basketball then you should know and love the history of Lithuania’s Bronze Olympic medalists of 1991.  More so about freedom and passion than basketball, at heart, this film shows what it takes to come out of Soviet rule and on top of world basketball.

The oppression of communism doesn’t keep the Lithuanian basketball team from proving they are one of the best teams in the world.  They represent a light of hope in the dark for their country as they fight the good fight all the way to the 1991 World Olympics.  In the film, we talk to some of the members of the team who talk about their experiences of living in a nation controlled by the USSR.  They speak of tight restrictions and are told what to say against their will, in representation of their oppressors, the USSR.  Every victory made by this team was done for their entire country.  The team also gained fame from the support of the Grateful Dead gifting them tie dyed uniforms which they wore to the ’91 Olympics, something that will live on in basketball history around the world.

Personally, I am not a fan of basketball, but this film touched my heart and made a fan out of me.  I recommend this film to everyone, young and old, sporty or not.